Tacking two more game on to their winning streak, the host seventh-grade Clipper girls downed Le Sueur-Henderson on Monday 29-19. The Friday before, they rolled over visiting Madelia.
The Clippers, who beat the host LSH 20-17 a week earlier, got out front right away. The Giants matched points after that but could never wipe out their early deficit.
“They were tough. They were tall. They were physical,” said coach Myrriah Rutz, “but we moved the ball around well today, and we were supper scrappy. Our goal, because we were shorter, was to try to get them razzed as much as we could in the back court, and we did a good job. We were focused and are playing great ball.”
Harper Rutz spotted an open lane and waltzed through it for a layup and the game’s first basket. Brooke Bosse followed with a run-jumper for two, and Rutz made a pair of freebies.
After Emma Kortuem scored, LSH got on the board with a two, but Bosse picked up a runaway ball and took it in for a bucket and a 10-2 Clipper advantage.
The Giants kept pace the rest of the half though. Kortuem put in a basket from the baseline, Bosse circled into the lane for two, Kortuem bagged a jumper, and Allie Anderson took an in-bounds pass up and in for two, and the Clippers were in front 18-10 at the break.
The Giants scored the first four points of the second half, the second basket after a steal. Twice, Bosse took an inbounds pass and scored on a drive across the baseline. She followed up those four points with a jumper for two, but the Giants narrowed their deficit to seven, 24-17.
The Clippers got two points after that, but none of them scored it. Instead, mixed up on the inbounds, a Giant put in a basket on the Clipper side of the floor.
As the final minutes ticked off, Bosse added in a free throw, and Anderson scored from the floor for the final Clipper points.
Bosse tallied 13 points. Kortuem had six points. Anderson and Rutz each added four points.
The seventh graders were coming off an easy-peasy home win over Madelia on Friday when they outscored the Blackhawks 45-8.
Every Clipper scored. With eight baskets from the floor for 16 points, Kortuem scored the most though. Bosse racked up 10 points. Rutz added six points. Millie Baker had four points, Sierra Lotspeich posted three points, and Charlotte Meyer, Mattea Grandaw, Clara Hilfer and Anderson each chipped in a basket.
The seventh-grade girls will return to the court on January 5 for a home game against Mankato Loyola.
Above: Brooke Bosse takes the ball inside during the home game vs LSH. Around her are Mattea Grandaw, Clara Hilfer and Emma Kortuem.
Harper Rutz takes aim as she goes in for a layup.
Mattea Grandaw takes the ball into the lane.
Sierra Lotspeich eyes the basket as an LSH defender moves in.
Millie Baker reaches for a loose ball.
Allie Anderson passes down court.